This week in Israel:
NOTICE: We consider the meeting scheduled for this evening between the Israeli and American leaders to be of great importance-there continues to be a battle over it. Please pray over the minds of both of these men-against confusion and the flesh, that God will harmonize where such is possible.and guide them a way of truth (Psalm 25:5) rather than delusion on behalf of the peoples entrusted to their oversight.
1. A MEETING AMID RUMORS OF A DECLARATION
This past week Palestinian Authority President Abbas announced that he has 'no desire' to run in the January 24 presidential and parliamentary elections. In protest of what he sees as Washington's failure to support his demand for a complete settlement construction freeze by Israel, he has threatened to dissolve the PA, declare the peace process a failure, and take what he calls 'other measures'. Yesterday, in an article entitled "Prime Minister heads to U.S. under threat of Palestinian statehood declaration", Israel's HaAretz wrote, "Concerns are growing in Israel's government over the possibility of a unilateral Palestinian declaration of independence within the 1967 borders, a move which could potentially be recognized by the United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently asked the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to veto any such proposal, after reports reached Jerusalem of support for such a declaration from major European Union countries, and apparently also certain U.S. officials. The reports indicated that Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has reached a secret understanding with the Obama administration over U.S. recognition of an independent state. Such recognition would likely transform any Israeli presence across the Green Line, even in Jerusalem into an illegal incursion to which the Palestinians would be entitled to engage in measures of self-defence." ("PM heads to U.S.": HAARETZ.com; 8 Nov 2009). The article further reveals that Prime Minister Netanyahu has discussed this proposal with U.S. Secretary of State Clinton and Mideast envoy George Mitchell, requesting that the U.S. inform Fayyad that it will not support his proposal and will veto it should it attain to the Security Council; however, "Netanyahu has yet to receive a clear response from Washington on its stance on Fayyad's plan."
We would mention that in Mr. Abbas' view the "settlements" mentioned here include Israeli presence on any of the land captured from Jordan in 1967. They include the cities of Ariel (Pop. 18,000), Ma'ale Adumin (33,000), and Gush Etzion (25,000). They also include large Jewish communities in present day Jerusalem, such as Gilo and French Hill. These figures also bring into focus the ambiguity surrounding precisely what President Obama was saying when, in his Cairo address to the Muslim world last June, he stated, "The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop."
President Abbas is an official under fire. With disapproval and disrespect within his own faction, and the threat of a burgeoning Hamas, it is not hard to imagine desperate measures drawn from a rationale of 'what is there to lose.' The article above gives just a glimpse of what Israel may face if a decision were made to unilaterally "declare independence"-and there were enough influential countries disaffected with Israel to support the declaration.
PLEASE PRAY:
*For Prime Minister Netanyahu.that in his meeting with President Obama, scheduled this (Monday) evening, he will receive supernatural clarity of thought, divine unction and courage in what to say; that he will desire to reach out to his God, and that integrity and uprightness will guard him as he waits on Him (Psalm 25:21) . That manipulation will have no effect in this meeting. That the fear of the LORD will attend both of these leaders.
*That the United States will make a clear decision against recognition of any unilateral Palestinian Declaration of Independence in Judea and Samaria.
*For grace to attend Mr Netanyahu with strength, wisdom and acuity of thought and vision as he proceeds on from his meetings in Washington to Paris to confer with President Sarkozy on Wednesday (just two days before Syrian President Assad arrives to also meet with the French president).
2. HONOUR IN HIGH PLACES
Prime Minister Netanyahu left yesterday for a visit to America to address some 3000 attendees at the annual General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America. President Obama, who had also been slated to speak at the event, was forced to cancel in order to attend a memorial for the thirteen victims of the shooting last week at Fort Hood, Texas. The change of plans by the Commander in Chief was entirely understandable. What was troubling for Israel, however, was the impression given by the President's decision to hold off on a request by Mr Netanyahu to meet with him during his visit. It wasn't until yesterday when Israel's Prime Minister was already in the air that a decision was issued granting him a short meeting. As one HaAretz commentator put it, "The White House wanted Netanyahu to sweat before being granted an audience with the president, and wanted everyone to see him perspire. The delays in finding a time to meet, and pushing it to a late hour - after the news programs on Israeli television - make Netanyahu look as if Obama threw him a bone." ("Obama to meet Netanyahu, but friction seems to remain": HaAretz.com, November 09, 2009).
PLEASE PRAY:
*For a warming of cordiality and mutual respect between these leaders. Both are relatively early in their present terms (although PM Netanyahu has much past experience) and hopefully still learning.
*For grace for both leaders to sense the supernatural forces at work and the necessity for a 'heavenly protocol' when the Holy Land is the subject of their discussions. Zechariah 2:12-13 prophecies: "The LORD (YHVH) will take possession of Judah [i.e. much of the area under present world contention] in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. BE SILENT, ALL FLESH, BEFORE YHVH, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!" (Emphases ours). PLEASE PRAY that these leaders move in godly influences transcending those of the world, the flesh and the devil.
3. DELIVERANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS
Last week, two days after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reported to the Security Council that although the UN took Israel's concerns about weapons smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon seriously, it lacked the evidence to independently verify such smuggling was taking place, the Israeli Navy boarded a cargo ship near Cyprus and discovered a massive shipment of arms-some 500 tons-hidden in crates, evidently en route from Iran to Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Included were thousands of medium-range 107-and 122-millimeter rockets, armor-piercing artillery, hand grenades and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition for Kalashnikov rifles. Yet, Israeli military officials caution that this is likely the tip of the iceberg for such smuggling both into Lebanon and Gaza. On Wednesday Hamas is reported to have successfully tested an Iranian copy of a Chinese 'silk-worm' missile, fired from within Gaza westward 60 km into the Mediterranean Sea, more than equal to the distance between Gaza and Tel Aviv to the north.
PLEASE PRAY:
*Thanksgiving for the mercy of God in releasing His Messengers to assist Israel in uncovering these instruments of destruction, meant no doubt for use in destroying those "who would inherit salvation." (Hebrews 1:14; Romans 11:26).
*Psalm 121: 4-7. "Behold, He who guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. YHVH is your guard, YHVH is your shade at your right hand.YHVH shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul."
* "He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him" (Daniel 2:22); "O my God, I trust in You; let me not be put to shame, Do not let my enemies triumph over me; Indeed, no one who hopes in You will ever be put to shame; Those will be put to shame who deal treacherously without cause.Consider my enemies, for they are many; and they hate me with cruel (Hebrew: hamas) hatred. Guard my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You." (Psalm 25:2-3, 19-20).
*For the Messianic believers whose number is growing in the Israel armed forces-courage, purity, integrity, fellowship with each other and strong and intimate relationship (like David before them!) with their God. And pray for spiritual maturation of the generations of Messianic young men and women coming up in the schools, who will have the military awaiting them on their graduation.
4. MANIFESTATION AT FORT HOOD
We read of the massacre at the Fort Hood army base with dismay and horror, but also with a deep awareness of the spiritual realities attending this sort of incident. The suspect, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan, is a life-long Muslim who, according to the imam of a mosque he formerly attended, once wrote on a form that his birthplace was Arlington, VA, but his nationality Palestinian. He is also reported to have defended suicide bombers before the military classes he instructed (equating them to soldiers who heroically dive upon a live grenade in order to save their comrades). This often gentle man evidently experienced enormous emotional pain and conflict related to the disparity between his personal beliefs and what he felt he was being asked to do as an officer in an army battling in predominantly Muslim lands. In the end, before he allegedly began to fire, he is reported to have cried what many have heard cried on buses and in restaurants in Israel, immediately before a suicide bomber pressed his detonator, "Allahu akbar!" (Allah is Great).
In predominantly secular humanist societies governed by "reason" any suggestion that a religious belief, Christian or otherwise, might have "spiritual" forces behind it-influencing, indwelling, even controlling-is likely to be greeted publically with scorn, contempt, suspicion and hostility. Yet we as believers must realize that we are "Seated with Messiah in the Heavenlies." Those who trust in Him are indwelt and empowered by a "Holy" spirit. Other spirits accompany the words of other "prophets" (I John 3:24-4:3), and may inhabit even the bloodlines of those who have embraced those words. Given the right catalyst, these will manifest their true hatred of the Most High, His Son, and those who are made in His image-erupting in violence, whether through an individual or a neighborhood or an entire society. As we mourn for those who were destroyed and wounded.we also pray for wisdom and understanding regarding our enemies-and "those who are with us", for activation in the body of Messiah of the One within them "greater than He who is in the world", whose purpose was manifested, that He might "destroy the works of the devil"-and set captives free (I John 3:8; 4:4).
This week's Torah Portion:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion from the five books of Moses (The Torah) and from the prophets (Haftarah-final reading) read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name taken from the opening words of the passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the Haftarah portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.
The readings for November 8-14 are called Chayeh Sarah "The Life of Sarah"-and include:
TORAH: Genesis 23:1-25:18
HAFTARAH: I Kings 1:1-31
*Genesis 23:17. "So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city." This location is Hebron, a few miles south of Jerusalem. Purchased by the Patriarch in ancient times, it remains one of the most contested and contentious places in the Holy Land. It is the place where the LORD spoke with Abraham as a friend (Gen. 18-in fact, the name itself is associated with a Hebrew word for friendship); It is where the first Israelite spies saw the giants-and where Caleb later conquered them; It is where David was instructed to first set up his kingship. Hebron was the major city during the Six Day War from which, the inhabitants emerged with a white flag; it was surrendered to Israeli troops without firing a shot. Yet it is also a place where violence repeatedly seeks to rule-where Jews were massacred by Muslims in 1929, where an Orthodox Jew massacred Muslims in 1994. Today Israel holds sovereignty over a small part of the city (total sovereignty was surrendered as part of the Oslo Agreement in 1997). There is a tiny community of Orthodox Jews both within and outside of the city. Neither the Muslims nor the Jews living there (both of whom claim Abraham for Father) believe in the true identity of the One who "appeared" to Abraham on this spot, as recorded in Genesis 18. Neither believe in the "Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32), who restores friendship with the Father for all humankind. Please Pray that God's Kingdom Come in Hebron! That the Son be revealed there.
*Genesis 24:5-6. "And the servant said to him, 'Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?' But Abraham said to him, 'Beware that you do not take my son back there!' Cf: Hebrews 11:15: "And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return." Please pray for immigrants whom God brings back to Israel (It can be frighteningly hard, especially for the older ones)-they they will not listen to the temptations to "go back to America" or to "go back to Russia". Pray for grace and mercy for absorption into the society in the land of their Fathers.but more importantly, into the God of their Fathers. And for the Body of Messiah here-that it also will not look back, but forward into "a better, that is, a heavenly country."
*Genesis 24:12. "Then he [Abraham's servant] said, 'O YHVH God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show lovingkindness with my master Abraham." The literal Hebrew of the second clause reads, "Please make it happen before me today!"
*Genesis 24:62-64. "Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi (i.e. 'Well of the Living One who sees me').went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted." Dwelling and meditating in the Presence (before the face) of the One who sees us, prepares and times us to lift our own eyes to see and recognize when provision for our destiny is approaching.
